Hi,

I joined in November 2012 and am posting for the first time.

My two 10-year-old BLM-adopted Mustang mares (Scarlet and Little Red) were visually diagnosed as insulin resistant late last summer/fall, when Scarlet experienced an episode of laminitis.

I have adopted a modified Emergency diet - not soaking hay but using small mesh hay nets. The horses have 24/7 access to pasture, but after a two-week spell of snow cover ceased grazing. I am using a small amount of Nutrena Empower Balance as a mineral carrier. (R/S/R beet pulp did not work given limited facilities and the need to keep things simple for backup when I am traveling.) I have removed red salt blocks. The fat pads over Scarlet's eyes have diminished, and they both seem to be less hungry. Weight is only slightly lower.

I would appreciate help with the following:

1. Balancing minerals in hay and water. I think that our unfiltered well water is high in iron.

2. Confirmation (or correction) that I do not need to soak hay.

3. Scarlet has a fairly reactive personality that seems to have calmed a little on the Emergency diet. Does this indicate a recovery from oxidative stress, and if so, is there anything else that I should be doing for this?

4. We did not do blood tests when the vet was here in the fall due to the seasonal rise… and in fact, drawing blood may not be possible due to the horses' fear of veterinarians and needles. If I am able to have blood drawn, what tests are recommended?

I have posted case histories, hay analysis and (limited) water analysis on ECH6.

Thank you for your help. (and my apologies if I have broken protocol by posting twice - I think that my first posting went into Yahoo limbo.)

Diane, Scarlet and Little Red
Upstate NY
Nov 2012
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHistory6/files/Diane%20Peters%20NY/